Lifting and conveying device



Nov. 8, 1932. A. E. WOLKOW LIFTING ANUCONVEYING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11. 1950 NOV. 8, 1932. WOLKOW 1,886,614

LIFTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE Filed July 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 PATENT OFFICE AUGUST E. WOLKOW, OF HARTFORD, WISCONSIN LIFTING AND C'ONVEYING DEVICE Application filed July 11, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in lifting and conveying devices.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a lifting and conveying device which is particularly adapted for use in lifting and conveying beehives and is so constructed that a beehive can be quickly and easily lifted from any location, placed upon the conveying device and conveyed to any desired locality and then lifted from the conveyin device onto the new location.

In lice culture it is a rather di ficult problem to move a large number of beehives from one locality to another to keep the bees in close proximity to difi erent flowering plants, and I have devised a novel device which is especially adapted for use in lifting and conveying the beehives from one locality to another regardless of their weight, the device Gconsisting of a clamping frame for embracing the body of the hive with a crane carried by a vehicle whereby the beehive can be quickly and easily lifted onto the vehicle, and then conveyed from one locality to another and easily transferred from the vehicle to a new site.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lifting and conveying device wherein the lifting member is so constructed as to be applicable to beehives of difierent sizes and the vehicle is provided with an adjustable crane whereby beehives or similar articles can be quickly lifted onto the vehicle, or lifted from the vehicle, and the vehicle is so constructed as to be able to move a number of hives of the same size at one time.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lifting and conveying device constructed in accordance with my invention, with parts thereof broken away;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Serial No. 467,245.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure t is a detail section on the line H of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken through the clamping and lifting frame; and,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

In carrying out the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a pair of traction wheels l'which are mounted upon the cross axle 2, the axle 2 having upturned ends 3 to which are attached the inner ends 4 of the hub portions of the wheels. The main frame 5 of the device is U-shaped and the intermediate portion is supported upon the axle 2 as will be clearly noted in Figure 1. The U shaped frame has its ends bent upwardly as shown at 6 and then horizontally as shown at 7 to form handles for lifting the rear end of the frame and push the about from place to place.

arranged at the forward end of the main frame 5 is a movable frame which comprises spaced uprights 8, the lower ends of which are pivotally mounted upon the portions tof the hubs and areconnected adjacent their up.- per ends by means of the'cross bar 10. The upper extremities of the spaced members '8 are arcuately curved at 9 and converge so that the extremities are arranged .in close relation and have loosely supported thereon a sheave 11 over which the rope 12 passes to a second sheave 13 which is connected to the links 14 pivotally mounted on the rod 15 of the clamping frame.

The frame 8 is pivotally mounted on the portions 4 of the hubs. of the traction wheels, asshown at 16, so that the frame 8 can be swung inwardly or rearwardly .relative to the frame 5. Longitudinal bars 17 are attached at their ends to each side portion of the frame 5, as shown in Figure 1, so that the bars 17 are arranged in spaced relation with the side portions of the frame, thus forming a guide for the cross bar 18. The ends of the cross bar 18 extend upwardly as shown at 19, .and are connected to a sleeve 20 which is slidably mounted upon the spaced bars 21. The bars 21 have their upper ends pivotally side of the frame 5. The pawl 28v isactuated connected to the side portions of the frame 8, as shown at 22, while the lower ends are slidably mounted within the sleeves and are provided at their lower extremities with a stop collar 23. The bars 21 are also provided with stop collars 24 ata point remote from their inner ends for limiting the downward movement of the bars in the sleeves 20.

A cross shaft 25 is rotatably supported by the brace rods 26, the ends of which are connected to the front and rear of the frame 25 and extending upwardly from shaft 25 is a hand lever 27 which carries a pawl 28 adapted to engage the rack bar 29 carried by one through the medium of the hand piece 30 for ed to engage cross pieces on the frame 5 for supporting the platform in spaced relation with the frame and thus preventing the platform from coming in contact with any of the working parts of the frame which are utilized for tilting the frame 8. Suitable feet 34 are carried by the frame 5 for supporting the rear end of the frame when in resting position, as shown in Figure 1, the lower end of feet 34 being on a plane substantially equal to the tread of the wheels 1. I

In order to provide means for lifting beehives and other articles onto the platform 32, I provide a clamping frame which is adapted to be fitted over the body of the hive and when lifting power is applied thereto, the same will clamp itself onto the hive so that'the hive can be quickly lifted onto the plc tform 32. The clampi'ng'frame comprises a rectangular top portion34 and rigidly supported at one end of the frame 34 is a stationary bottom section 35. The bottom section 35 is connected to the top section 34 by means of the transverse bar 36 and the diagonal brace member 37. Extending transversely of the U-shaped frame 35 is a rod 38 preferably cylindrical in form as illustrated, the ends of which are fitted within suitable apertures in'the side portions of the frame 35 and retained in position by means of the cotter pins 39, Forming a further connection between the upper frame 34 and the stationary bottom U-shaped frame 35 is a brace member 40. The transverse members 36 and brace mem- -ber 35 are arranged on opposite sides of frames 34 and 35 as shown at Figure 6, to

form a rigid connection between the upper and lower frames.

A movable U-shaped section 41 is provided and is pivotally suspended from the frame 34 by means of the arms 42. Extending upwardly from the intermediate portion of the U-shaped frame 41 are spaced arms 43 which provide a hand guide as'illustrated in Figure 1 for properly positioning the clamping frame either for conveying the same overa beehive or when placing the beehive in position during the lowering of the same.

Rotatably mounted in suitable apertures in the horizontal bars 44 of the movable frame 41 :is a U-shaped member 45, the ends of whichextend upwardly on opposite sides of the clamping frame, while the intermediate portion is bent at right angles to form a clamping bar 46 and when an object is en gaged by the frame as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5, the offset portion 46 will bear against one side of the object to besupported in an inclined position as shown at Figure 5 by means of a cross rod 47 so as to prevent the clamping member from passing beyond a central position, but to retain the same in'such position as to securely clamp an object between the offset portion 46 and the transverse rod 38. The handle portions 48 of the U-shaped member are arranged upon opposite sides of the clamping frame, as shown in Figure 6, so that either one of the handle members 48 may be grasped for releasing the offset portion 46 from the object being clamped in the frame.

Pivotally connected to the ends of the U- shaped members 35 and 41 are the links 49 and 50, arranged upon opposite sides of the frame and pivotallyconnected adjacent one end as shown at 51. Pivotally connected to the upperends of the links 49 and 50 are the connecting links 52 and 53 which have their outer or upper ends pivotally connected to links 14, as shown at 15. e

From the above arrangement, it will be apparent that when pulling power is exerted on links 14, the links 49 and 50 will be rocked upon the pivot points 51, so as to move the frame 41 toward the frame 35 and when these two frames have been brought into close proximity with the object to be grasped, the Ll-shaped member 45 is rocked within its bearing until the offset portion 46 engages the'object and as lifting power is applied to the. frame, the offset portion 46 will have a tendency to move downwardly onto the cross rod 47 and thus clamp the object'in between the offset portion 46 and rod 38, and as the offset portion 46 is limited in its downward movement, a secure clamping action will be effected for raising an ob]ect within the frame. 1

The link 49'is limited in its movement in one direction by means'of a stop bolt 54, while a stop pm 55 limits the movement in one direction of link 50, both of these stop members being so arranged that they can be placed in different positions on the side portions of frame 34 in accordance with the size of the objects to be clamped in the frame. However, the frame is normally maintained in an open position through the medium of the coil springs 56, each having one of their ends connected to one end of frame 84, while the other ends are connected to the lower ends of links 53. From this, it will be apparent that when lifting power is being applied to the clamping frame, the movement of links 49 and will place springs 56 under tension so that as soon as the lifting power is relieved, the tension of springs 56 will return the different movable parts to the clamping frame to position them for receiving another object or releasing the object already in the frame.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive lifting and conveying device, whereby beehives or other articles can be quickly lifted and placed on the conveying member and transferred from place to place. This device has been found to be very useful when transporting beehives from one locality to another as the lifting frame can be quickly dropped over the hive, clamped thereto and then by pulling on the end 12 of the rope 12, the hive can be lifted suiiiciently to permit the frame 8 to be swung backwardly and deposit the hive on the platform 32. The frame 8 as will be readily noted is quickly adjusted through the shifting of lever 27 and this shifting of frame 8 is an essential feature of the invention as it will permit the frame to be moved forwardly for quickly picking up an object by the lifting frame, or

to be moved rearwardly to deposit the object onto the platform.

Keyed to the end of shaft 25 opposite lever 25, is an arm 27 which connects up to a link on the opposite side of frame 5 which is similar to link 31 so as to be connected to the other end 19 of the bar 18, the action being the same as on the side of the device shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted that by providing the movable frame at the forward end of the main frame 5 with spaced uprights, the clamping frame can be raised and easily swung onto the platform between the spaced uprights when the movable frame is tilted rearwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. From this, it will be apparent that an article, such as a beehive, or the like, can be quickly raised and swung onto the platform 32 or removed therefrom.

I claim:

1. A lifting and conveying device including a body frame, traction means for supporting said body frame, a pivoted frame carried by the traction means, guide bars carried by the main frame, a cross bar having its ends slidably mounted beneath said guide bars with its ends turned upwardly, guide sleeves connected to said upwardly turned ends, brace rods having one end pivotally connected to the pivoted frame and the other end slidably mounted in said sleeves, stop members carried by the brace rods and arranged at predetermined points upon opposite sides of said sleeves for limiting the movement of the brace rods, manually actuated means having connection with the cross bar for adjusting said sleeves in the body frame, whereby to tilt the pivoted frame to either side of the vertical, and a clamping frame adj ustably supported by the pivoted frame.

2. A lifting and conveying device including a body frame, traction means for normally supporting the frame at one end, feet members for supporting the other end of the frame in a horizontal plane, guide bars carried by the sides of the frame, a U-shaped bar having the ends of its intermediate portion movably disposed beneath said guide bars with its ends extending upwardly, spaced sleeves connected to said upwardly extending ends, a pivoted frame carried by the traction means, brace rods having their upper ends connected with the pivoted frame and their lower ends adjustably mounted in said sleeves, means for limiting the movement of the brace rods relative to said sleeves in either direction, and a clamping member loosely suspended from the pivoted frame whereby to grasp articles to be placed therein and move them onto the platform.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Hartford, in the county of Washington and State of Wisconsin.

AUGUST E. WOLKOW. 

